Wandsworth's libraries after outsourcing

Three years after outsourcing library services to GLL, Wandsworth expects to save £300,000 a year and deliver new investment in library buildings and ICT.

A new report published by the council states that work has started on a new Wandsworth town centre library, and the council is also developing plans to replace another two existing branches, York Gardens and Roehampton, with new state of the art buildings offering a wide range of modern services.

Since Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) took over the network in 2013 Battersea Library has been upgraded with a new children’s area, which is much brighter and affords better access for parents with buggies. Improvements have also been made to the study area in the Reference Library including the restoration of 1920s study desks.

Earlsfield has been also completely redecorated inside and out, and ‘teen’ and ‘homework’ areas created. The children’s library at Northcote was redecorated and children’s library at Tooting completely refurbished.

Going from strength to strength

The report goes on to say that in 2014/15, the last year for which comparative statistics are available, almost a million and a half books were issued to Wandsworth library users – the second highest level among the 33 London boroughs. Meanwhile three quarters of a million children’s books were issued – more than in any other borough.

“The council has not been afraid to experiment, and through outsourcing day-to-day management of our branch network to GLL, we have harnessed another organisation’s new ideas and opened the door to new sources of investment. The result is that we are delivering the savings we need while providing the first class libraries residents demand.”

Other improvements achieved under the partnership with GLL include:

New e-resources including company information service MINT and music downloading service FREEGAL

Software that automatically identifies and sorts books, to free up staff time at Balham Library

Cloud-based printing and photocopying to enable customers to print from home or from their device

A better system to ensure libraries get new titles as quickly as possible and people have a shorter wait for reserved items

An online system to enable the public to buy images from the heritage collection

Email warnings to help customers avoid late return charges

More e-book titles made available

A comprehensive programme of events in the libraries

Online learning sessions

Link ups with other organisations including the Putney School of Art and Design and the Citizens Advice Bureau to help local people access other public services in their local branch

Wandsworth and GLL are also developing plans to co-locate library services at other community settings such as leisure centres and health centres.